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Holiday Lights 2022: Western New York, Central New York, and the Finger Lakes

posted by Teresa Farrell at 2022-12-08 13:47:00

The holidays are almost here, which means towns across Upstate New York are bringing out the decorations for their annual holiday light displays. Check out some highlights of light displays throughout Central New York, Western New York, and the Finger Lakes for 2022.


In Central New York, Syracuse’s festive Lights on the Lake is back to celebrate its 33rd year this season. This two-mile-long drive through Onondaga Lake Par features an extensive collection of holiday lights and displays set to the sound of holiday music, and it has become a famous favorite in the region. In nearby Chittenango, the Wild Animal Park features a walk-through Winter Wonderland of Lights, with light displays and some of the animals out and about to be seen as well. In Utica, the Utica Zoo is hosting its walk-through Bright Nights at the Utica Zoo again this year. While the animals are not the focus of the here—they’ll be asleep by the time the lights go on—there is plenty else to do; in addition to the light displays, the event features music, crafts, food trucks and hot drinks for purchase, as well as other holiday-themed activities. Further north, in Watertown, Zoo New York is also hosting a light show this season; Winter Wonderlights is in its third year, with walk-through light displays throughout the zoo.

In the Finger Lakes, you can visit the walkable  Ice and Lights Festival in Ithaca between December 2 and 10 this year for festive lights and other holiday fun. Or check out Twinkle Town, located at Bradley Farms in Elmira, for a drive-through holiday light experience.


Western New York is home to many different light shows as well. Just outside of Rochester, in the town of Victor, the RocLights Holiday Light Show at Victor Hills drive-through event winds through a mile-and-a-half-long path through the Victor Hills Golf Club, with more than 20 light displays to enjoy. And outside of Buffalo, the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights is back at the fairgrounds in Hamburg with more than 70 light displays to drive through. There’s also the Holiday Light Show in Lockport, with dozens of displays to drive through, and the annual Zoo Lights at the Buffalo Zoo, a walk-through experience with light displays, train rides, food and beverages, holiday fun and more.  


Of course, before you head out, make sure that you check the hours, reservation information, and ticket prices for these light shows—some are free and open daily, others require tickets purchased either ahead of time or on site, and several are open only during certain days and hours. Once you’ve got the details down, bundle up, grab a thermos of hot cocoa, and enjoy the bright lights of the season!
 

PHOTO CREDITS
Bright nights display photo credit Utica Zoo
North Pole Station photo credit Lights on the Lake
Victor Hills lights photo credit ROC Lights at Victor Hills
Holiday Light Show photo credit Holiday Light Show

 

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